Brent Child Vision Screening Service Market Engagement (Provider Selection Regime)

Brent Council intends to commission a comprehensive Child Vision Screening Service for reception-aged children (4–5 years) attending mainstream across the London Borough of Brent. The service aligns with UK National Screening Committee recommendations for vision screening in children.
This is a market engagement notice for the proposed procurement of the Brent Child Vision Screening Service.
Brent Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to better understand the provider market before determining the most appropriate provider selection process under the Provider Selection Regime (PSR).
The Council have prepared a market engagement pack which consists of a draft specification, market engagement information and a separate questionnaire which requests relevant information from your organisation and your capabilities. Please download, complete and attach this from the London Tenders Portal.
This questionnaire is not part of a procurement process and responses will not be scored. Information provided will be used to:
• understand provider capability
• identify potential innovations
• inform the service specification
• understand market capacity
• identify risks and opportunities
• inform the procurement strategy
A market engagement event has also been scheduled on Wednesday 5th August between 1pm - 3pm. If your organisation is interest in attending, please express an interest in the opportunity on the London Tenders Portal. You will then receive a message from the Council requesting further details on how to register for the event.

The primary aim of the service is to identify children with reduced vision, including amblyopia, refractive error and other visual abnormalities. Early identification significantly improves visual outcomes and reduces the risk of permanent visual impairment.
The provider will be responsible for:
• Delivering an orthoptist-led vision screening programme in Brent primary schools for reception aged children.
• Identifying and inviting all eligible children, including those who move into the borough during the academic year.
• Providing information to parents and carers to support informed decision-making.
• Delivering screening using crowded logMAR and Kay Picture Test and related equipment.
• Deliver catch-up screening within six months for children absent during the initial screening session.
• Communicating outcomes to parents, carers and schools via email and physical letter available in different languages to improve access.
• Maintaining accurate electronic screening records and performance data.
• Managing robust referral pathways into community orthoptic, accredited optometry and hospital ophthalmology services where further assessment or treatment is required.
• Clear follow up system to ensure children with an onward referral are seen by the appropriate health professional.
• Working collaboratively with schools, GPs, community services and hospital eye services to ensure seamless patient pathways.
• The successful provider will be expected to deliver the service in accordance with national guidance including National Screening committee guidance and British Irish Orthoptic Society.
The Council wishes to engage with organisations that have demonstrable experience in delivering population-based public health screening services, and the service must be orthoptic led.
The provider will be expected to:
• Deliver an equitable service across all eligible schools in Brent.
• Demonstrate compliance with safeguarding, clinical governance, information governance and quality assurance requirements.
• Provide qualified orthoptists to lead the service and ensure orthoptic assistants delivering the service maintain relevant competencies and continuing professional development.
• Supply, maintain and calibrate all necessary screening equipment including Keeler and Kay logging systems.
• Operate effective data collection, reporting and performance monitoring systems.
• Attend quarterly contract monitoring meetings and submit regular KPI reports ahead of quarterly meetings.
• Maintain effective risk management processes and participate in audits and quality assurance reviews.
• Ensure clear communication with schools, parents, commissioners and partner organisations.
• Manage a robust follow-up system to ensure referred children are seen by the appropriate health professional.
• Demonstrate the ability to meet equality duties, reduce health inequalities and provide accessible information for families whose first language is not English or who have additional communication needs.